The Ultimate Spicy Tacos Al Pastor Recipe

This Spicy Tacos Al Pastor recipe is perfect for serving a crowd. You can bake it in an oven or on the grill. It’s impressive to look at and even more delicious to eat.

John and I love to make our Sunday dinners together. He is my grill guy and I’m usually his sous chef responsible for a side dish or salad. When he ran across a recipe for Tacos Al Pastor, we knew we had to give it a try.

I’ve never heard of anyone that doesn’t like Mexican food. We all have our favorite style and John and I tend to enjoy the authentic recipes versus “Tex-Mex”. Especially if we can eat it in Mexico! We’ve been to different areas and love the culture and its people.

I don’t know how authentic this Spicy Tacos Al Pastor recipe is but it sure is delicious. The meat is marinated and so tender and flavorful. John chose to put it on the grill by setting it in a cast iron dutch oven. The meat was so lean that we didn’t get a lot of dripping. A skillet would have worked well too. I just loved the char that some of the meat got. John sliced it thin and we served it on corn tortillas topped with the simplest of toppings.

We love celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Actually, it’s just an excuse to enjoy Mexican food and maybe a Margarita or two with our friends. I can’t wait to serve this one. The pictures may look impressive or a little intimidating like it was to me, but it’s a very simple recipe to make. I know my friends are going to love it!

This Spicy Tacos Al Pastor recipe is perfect for serving a crowd. You can bake it in an oven or on the grill. It's impressive to see and even more delicious to eat.

Course:
Main Dish

Cuisine:
American, Mexican

Servings: 12

Calories: 146kcal

Hostess At Heart: Hostess At Heart

Ingredients

2lbsboneless pork shouldercut into just under 1/2 inch (3/8) slices

3tbspachiote paste

2tbspguajillo chili powder

1tspgarlic powder

1tspdried Mexican oregano

2tspcumin

2tspkosher salt

1tspground black pepper

1/3cupwhite vinegar

1/2cuppineapple juice

1pineapple

Toppings

Fresh cilantrochopped

Green oniondiced

Cotija cheesecrumbled

Tomatoesseeded and diced

Corn tortillas

Other

1thick wooden skewer or wooden dowelsoaked in water 20 minutes.

Instructions

In a large glass bowl combine achiote paste with vinegar and stir until no large lumps exist. Stir in Guaillo powder, garlic powder, Mexican oregano, cumin, salt and pepper and pineapple juice. Add meat, cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.

Skin the pineapple and slice into 1-inch rounds. Thread one pineapple round onto the wooden skewer and if baking in the oven, set it on a rimmed baking sheet covered with foil. You can also set it in a cast iron skillet or dutch oven and place it on the grill as we did. Layer slices of pork onto the skewer until 1 inch remains at the top. Place another slice of pineapple over the top.

Preheat oven to 350°F oven for approximately 90 minutes or until the outside is slightly charred on the outside. Briefly grill remaining pineapple slices or bake for 15 minutes until they begin to brown.

Wow! You and John are getting ahead of ourselves with the upcoming Mexican celebration eh? Margaritas? Yeah, sign me up, especially if you will be serving these unusual and tantalizing tacos. Love that 3rd picture with the pineapple, I'm sure the sweetness, tartness and heat took it a notch higher. Well done you two!!

Thank you, Loretta! I don't think I would have tackled this one but John had his eyes set on it. Turns out it was so much easier and tastier than I would have guessed so I had to share. It's always so fun to create together too. Enjoy your day Loretta!

The Food Network Magazine had a lengthy quiz on what is Tex-Mex and what is authentic Mexican. These tacos and mole were the only two. I never heard of these tacos but when a couple like you two cook together it's got to be good :) The recipe sounds authentic and looks delicious and it's one you can make to your own taste!

Omg Julie! This is so totally awesome...I am so glad you decided to try the recipe...the chicken looks so scrumptious..love the char on it. I always look forward to a good taco and this one surely is a show stopper..I love the use of the pineapple..Will have to try this for sure...Thanks for bringing this to Fiesta Friday #168.

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About Hostess At Heart

Thank you for visiting! My name is Julie and I love to cook and bake. I try to use simple in-season or readily available ingredients. I also love to, travel, garden and spend time with family, friends, and my dog Maci. Oh and I overuse exclamation marks! Read More…